Method and system for unlocking doorway

ABSTRACT

An unlock system does not use a key that might be copied so that only a correct person can unlock a door and security is enhanced. Unlock records of door-lock are stored in a limited memory capacity in volume.  
     Fingerprint data input to a fingerprint input section  21  disposed outside a door  11  provided on a doorway  10  is detected, and the detected fingerprint data is verified against previously registered fingerprint data. If it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with the registered fingerprint data, an unlock signal is output to unlock the door-lock. At the same time, an identification code of the registered fingerprint data that unlocked is stored.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an unlock method and an unlocksystem applied to a doorway of a building for example.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In order to unlock a door-lock of a doorway of a building such asa stand-alone house, an apartment such as a condominiumresearch/development facility and an office building, a normal key,i.e., a latch key or notch key, and a corresponding lock unit are used.A normal key is used also for locking the door of the doorway of eachportion in the building.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0003] However, the normal key which has been conventionally used iseasily lost and easily be copied. Therefore, unless a user keep carryingthe key any time and anywhere, it is not possible to deny a possibilitythat the key is copied and illegally used without the user's knowing.That is, there is a problem that even if the door-lock was unlockedusing a normal key, it is not clear whether the user himself or herselfunlock the lock or a copied key was illegally used.

[0004] The present invention provide a lock method and an unlock systemof a doorway in which the problem of the conventional unlock system iseliminated, a conventional normal key that might be copied is not usedfor unlocking a door-lock provided on a doorway, only the user canunlock so that a reliability is enhanced, and unlock record of thedoor-lock can be saved in high volume.

[0005] According to a first technical aspect of the present invention,in a method for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway, fingerprintdata input to a fingerprint input section disposed outside a door isdetected, the detected fingerprint data is verified against fingerprintdata that was previously registered together with an identificationcode, and if it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint datacoincided with the registered fingerprint data, an unlock signal isoutput to unlock the door-lock and the identification code of theregistered fingerprint data is stored.

[0006] According to a second technical aspect of the invention, aplurality of fingerprint data is registered as registered fingerprintdata such that the fingerprint data can be identified by identificationcodes having much smaller data amount as compared with the fingerprintdata, and when the detected fingerprint data coincided with any one ofthe plurality of registered fingerprint data, the unlock signal isoutput to unlock the door-lock, and an identification code of thecoincided one registered fingerprint data is stored.

[0007] According to a third technical aspect of the invention, if it wasconfirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with theregistered fingerprint data, the unlock signal is output to unlock thedoor-lock, and the fingerprint data that unlocked is stored in a storingsection having a data function or a clock function that can set thefingerprint data that unlocked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0008]FIG. 1 are views showing structures of an embodiment of an unlocksystem of a doorway, wherein (a) is a view of the structure as seen fromoutside of a door, (b) is a view of the structure as seen from an endsurface of the door, and (c) is a view of the structure as seen frominside of the door;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the unlocksystem of entrance;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a explanatory perspective view of an operation unit;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a motion in FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the unlocksystem of the doorway; and

[0013]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a motion in FIG. 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference tothe drawings. FIG. 1 are views showing structures of an embodiment of anunlock system of a doorway. An unlock system 1 of a doorway comprises anoperation unit 20 mounted to an outer side 12 of a door 11, a controlunit 30 mounted to an inner side 13 of the door 11, and a lock unit 40having a knob 41 on the inner side 13 of the door 11. A reference number15 represents door handles mounted on opposite sides of the door 11.Reference numbers 42 and 43 represent an operation knob and a lock unitcorresponding to a normal key.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the unlock system 1 of the doorway.The operation unit 20 comprises a fingerprint input section 21, afingerprint detecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22 and a lockingswitch 23. The control unit 30 comprises a fingerprint resister section31, a fingerprint verifying section 32, a latch control section 33, anunlock record storing section 34, an unlock record retrieving section 35and a display section 36. Necessary electric power is supplied from abattery or appropriate DC power supply to each part of the operationunit 20, each part of the control unit 30 and each part of the lock unit40, and this state is not illustrated in the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, according to the operation unit 20, if acover 24 is opened, a fingerprint input surface 25 of the fingerprintinput section 21 appears. If a user puts his or her finger on thefingerprint input surface 25, the fingerprint input section 21 becomesON. If an input fingerprint data is detected by the fingerprintdetecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22, the detected fingerprint datais transmitted to a fingerprint verifying section 32 of the control unit30.

[0017] If the locking switch 23 is pushed, the operation unit 20transmits a lock signal to the lock unit 40. With this signal, if thekey is unlocked, the lock unit 40 locks electrically.

[0018] The control unit 30 is in an unlocking operation mode byfingerprint data input in its normal state, but the control unit 30 isswitched to a register/delete operation mode of fingerprint data by anappropriate operation. That is, in the case of the register/deleteoperation mode of the fingerprint data, if the fingerprint data detectedby the operation unit 20 is sent from the fingerprint detecting section(fingerprint sensor) 22 to the fingerprint resister section 31, thefingerprint data is registered together with the identification code inthe fingerprint resister section 31. If an arbitrary identification codeis designated and deleting operation is carried out, a fingerprint datacorresponding to the identification code is deleted together with theidentification code.

[0019] When the control unit 30 is in the unlocking operation mode by anormal fingerprint data input, if a fingerprint data detected by theoperation unit 20 is sent from the fingerprint detecting section(fingerprint sensor) 22 to the fingerprint verifying section 32, thefingerprint data is verified against a fingerprint data that waspreviously registered in the fingerprint resister section 31. If aplurality of registered fingerprint data exist, the fingerprint data isverified against the registered fingerprint data one by one. If thedetected fingerprint data coincides with any one of the registeredfingerprint data, the fingerprint verifying section 32 sends acoinciding signal to the latch control section 33, and with this signal,the latch control section 33 sends the unlock signal to the lock unit 40to lock the key electrically.

[0020] In the control unit 30, when the detected fingerprint datacoincides with any one of the registered fingerprint data, thefingerprint verifying section 32 sends the identification code to theunlock record storing section 34 to store the identification code.

[0021] Here, the reason why the identification code is registeredtogether with the fingerprint data in the fingerprint resister section31 is that a large volume of unlock records are stored without consumingthe memory capacity of the unlock record storing section 34meaninglessly. That is, as compared with the fingerprint data, the dataamount of the identification code expressed with number (decadic number)or symbols for example is extremely smaller. Therefore, if ten kinds offingerprint data are registered without using the identification code,and all unlock records of 100 times or 1000 times are stored withfingerprint data, the memory capacity of the unlock record storingsection 34 must be 10 times or 100 times greater than that of thefingerprint resister section 31.

[0022] Whereas, in order to register ten kinds of fingerprint data withthe identification codes, the memory capacity of the fingerprintresister section 31 must be slightly increased, but a memory capacity ofthe unlock record storing section 34 required for storing all of the 100times or 1000 times unlock records with identification codes is muchsmaller than a memory capacity of the fingerprint resister section 31.Therefore, a large volume of unlock records more than 100 times or 1000times records can be stored even if a limited memory capacity is used asthe unlock record storing section 34.

[0023] The identification codes stored in the unlock record storingsection 34 are displayed on the display section 36. by retrieving by theunlock record retrieving section 35. Therefore, if time is specified andretrieval is conducted by the unlock record retrieving section 35, it ispossible to confirm a person of the fingerprint data who unlocked thelock at the specific time retrospectively. Therefore, this unlock systemis preferable for a doorway 10 in which many people unlock the door-lockmany times a day.

[0024] Further the lock unit 40 can be locked and unlocked by turning anoperation knob 41 from the inner side 13 of the door 11.

[0025] Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explainedusing a flowchart shown in FIG. 4. When a door-lock is unlocked fromouter side 12 of the door 11, first, the cover 24 of the operation unit20 is opened, a user puts his or her finger on the fingerprint inputsurface 25 and inputs the fingerprint data. Then, the fingerprint datainput to the fingerprint input section 21 is detected by the fingerprintdetecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22 (step 1).

[0026] Then, the detected fingerprint data is sent to the fingerprintverifying section 32 of the control unit 30 from the fingerprintdetecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22, and the fingerprint verifyingsection 32 verifies the fingerprint data against fingerprint data whichwere previously registered in the fingerprint resister section 31 (stepS2).

[0027] If the detected fingerprint data coincided with any one of theregistered fingerprint data (YES in step S3), the lock unit 40 receivesthe unlock signal from the latch, control section 33 to unlock thedoor-lock electrically (step S4). At that time, it is preferable toinform of the unlock by a buzzer.

[0028] On the other hand, if the detected fingerprint data did notcoincide with the registered fingerprint data (NO in step S3), input ofthe fingerprint data is again required up to a preset times (e.g., threetimes) (step S5). At that time, it is preferable to inform the user toagain input the fingerprint data by a warning buzzer. When it was judgedthat the input was repeated preset times, the unlock operation iscompleted. A procedure (step S7) to store a fingerprint data detected inthis case in the unlock record storing section 34 as an unconfirmedfingerprint data, or to store information that the fingerprint data isunconfirmed in the unlock record storing section 34 may be added. Withthis step, the unconfirmed fingerprint data can be verified when theunlock record is searched in the future.

[0029] When the lock unit 40 unlocked the door-lock electrically (stepS4), the fingerprint verifying section 32 sends an identification codeof the coincided registered fingerprint data to the unlock recordstoring section 34 and the latter stores the identification code (stepS6) at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to confirm a person ofthe fingerprint data who unlocked the lock at a specific dataretrospectively by specifying the time and by retrieving theidentification codes stored in the unlock record storing section 34 bythe unlock record retrieving section 35. Therefore, this unlock systemis preferable for a doorway 10 in which many people unlock the door-lockmany times a day.

[0030] Although the invention is applied to the door 11 provided on thedoorway 10 of the building in this embodiment, the invention is notlimited to this, and for example the invention can be applied to a dooror similar structure provided on a doorway of each portion in abuilding.

[0031] According to the embodiment, when the door-lock provided on thedoorway is unlocked, an identification system using no normal key thatmight be copied is employed. Therefore, the lock can be unlocked only bya correct person, and high reliability can be secured. Further, not onlythe fingerprint data, but also the identification code specifying thefingerprint data are stored as associated information. Thus, memorycapacity per one data can largely be saved, and a large volume of unlockrecords of door-lock can be stored in a limited memory capacity. Theunlock system can be applied to a doorway in which many people unlockthe door-lock many times a day, it is possible to confirm a person offingerprint data who unlocked the lock, or to confirm when a personhaving an unconfirmed fingerprint unlock the key retrospectively.

[0032] Another Embodiment

[0033]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an unlock system 1 of a doorwayaccording to another embodiment of the invention, and constituentelements corresponding to those of the unlock system in FIG. 2 aredesignated with the same numbers. An operation unit 20 comprises afingerprint input section 21, a fingerprint detecting section(fingerprint sensor) 22 and a locking switch 23. A control unit 30comprises a fingerprint resister section 31, a fingerprint verifyingsection 32, a latch control section 33, an unlock record storing section34, a date/time setting section 37, a display section 36 and unlockrecord retrieving section 35. Necessary electric power is supplied froma battery or appropriate DC power supply to each part of the operationunit 20, each part of the control unit 30 and each part of the lock unit40. A structure of the operation unit 20 is the same as that shown inFIG. 2 and thus, explanation thereof is omitted here.

[0034] The control unit 30 is in an unlocking operation mode byfingerprint data input in its normal state, but the control unit 30 isswitched to a register/delete operation mode of fingerprint data by anappropriate operation. That is, in the case of the register/deleteoperation mode of the fingerprint data, if the fingerprint data detectedby the operation unit 20 is sent from the fingerprint detecting section(fingerprint sensor) 22 to the fingerprint resister section 31, thefingerprint data is registered together with the identification code inthe fingerprint resister section 31. If an arbitrary identification codeis designated and deleting operation is carried out, a fingerprint datacorresponding to the identification code is deleted together with theidentification code.

[0035] When the control unit 30 is in the unlocking operation mode by anormal fingerprint data input, if a fingerprint data detected by theoperation unit 20 is sent from the fingerprint detecting section(fingerprint sensor) 22 to the fingerprint verifying section 32, thefingerprint data is verified against a fingerprint data that waspreviously registered in the fingerprint resister section 31. If aplurality of registered fingerprint data exist, the fingerprint data isverified against the registered fingerprint data one by one. If thedetected fingerprint data coincides with any one of the registeredfingerprint data, the fingerprint verifying section 32 sends acoinciding signal to the latch control section 33, and with this signal,the latch control section 33 sends the unlock signal to the lock unit 40to lock the key electrically.

[0036] According to this control unit 30, when the detected fingerprintdata coincides with any one of the registered fingerprint data, thefingerprint verifying section 32 sends any of an identification code ofthe coincided registered fingerprint data, the detected fingerprint dataand the coincided registered fingerprint data to the unlock recordstoring section 34, and the unlock record storing section 34 stores thesame. The unlock record storing section 34 includes a data function or aclock function. If the data function or the clock function displayed onthe display section 36 was set by operating a date/time setting section37, any of the identification code, the detected fingerprint data andthe coincided registered fingerprint data is stored together with thedate or time whose coincidence was confirmed.

[0037] An identification code, a detected fingerprint data or acoincided registered fingerprint data are displayed on the displaysection 36 by retrieving by the unlock record retrieving section 35.Therefore, if the date/time setting section 37 is operated to set dateor time when the system is installed for example, it is possible toconfirm date or time when the system was first used and unlock recordretroactively, when an operator of a maker visits for maintenance or thelike. Further, if the date/time setting section 37 is operated to renewthe date or time at the time of maintenance for example, it is possibleto confirm the data and time of the last maintenance and subsequentunlock record retroactively when the operator of the maker visits forreplacing the part or body. Further, if the date/time setting section 37is operated to renew date or time when the part or body is replaced, itis possible to confirm the date or time when the part or body wasreplaced and subsequent unlock record retroactively when the operator ofthe maker visits again thereafter.

[0038] The lock unit 40 can be locked and unlocked by turning theoperation knob 41 from inner side 13 of the door 11.

[0039] Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained using aflowchart shown in FIG. 6. When a user is outside 12 of the door 11 andthe door-lock is to be unlocked, first, the cover 24 of the operationunit 20 is opened, the user puts his or her finger on the fingerprintinput surface 25 and inputs the fingerprint data. With this operation,the fingerprint detecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22 detects thefingerprint data input to the fingerprint input section 21 (step S11).

[0040] Then, the detected fingerprint data is sent to the fingerprintverifying section 32 of the control unit 30 from the fingerprintdetecting section (fingerprint sensor) 22, and the fingerprint verifyingsection 32 verifies the fingerprint data against fingerprint data whichwere previously registered in the fingerprint resister section 31 (stepS12).

[0041] If the detected fingerprint data coincided with any one of theregistered fingerprint data (YES in step S13), the lock unit 40 receivesthe unlock signal from the latch control section 33 to unlock thedoor-lock electrically (step S14). At that time, it is preferable toinform of the unlock by a buzzer.

[0042] On the other hand, if the detected fingerprint data did notcoincide with the registered fingerprint data (NO in step S13), input ofthe fingerprint data is again required up to a preset times (e.g., threetimes) (step S15). At that time, it is preferable to inform the user toagain input the fingerprint data by a warning buzzer. When it was judgedthat the input was repeated preset times, the unlock operation iscompleted.

[0043] A procedure (step S17) to store a fingerprint data detected inthis case or the operated time in the unlock record storing section 34as an unconfirmed fingerprint data, or to register the same in thefingerprint resister section 31 may be added. With this step, theunconfirmed fingerprint data and the later-described unconfirmedfingerprint can be verified when the unlock record is searched in thefuture.

[0044] Further, when the lock unit 40 unlocked the door-lockelectrically (step S14), the fingerprint verifying section 32 sends anyof the identification code of the coincided registered fingerprint data,the detected fingerprint data and the coincided registered fingerprintdata to the unlock record storing section 34 and the latter stores thesame (step S16).

[0045] The unlock record storing section 34 stores a set date or timetogether with any of the identification code of the coincided registeredfingerprint data, the detected fingerprint data and the coincidedregistered fingerprint data. Therefore, it is possible to confirm theunlock record any time having date or time after installation byretrieving the record by the unlock record retrieving section 35.Further, together with this, it is possible to confirm the unconfirmedfingerprint and its time concerning the unlocking operation registeredin step S17 at a later data.

[0046] For example, if the date/time setting section 37 is operated toset date or time when the system is installed, it is possible to confirmdate or time when the system was first used and unlock recordretroactively, when an operator of a maker visits for maintenance or thelike.

[0047] Further, if the date/time setting section 37 is operated to renewthe date or time at the time of maintenance for example, it is possibleto confirm the data and time of the last maintenance and subsequentunlock record retroactively when the operator of the maker visits forreplacing the part or body.

[0048] Further, if the date/time setting section 37 is operated to renewdate or time when the part or body is replaced, it is possible toconfirm the date or time when the part or body was replaced andsubsequent unlock record retroactively when the operator of the makervisits again thereafter.

[0049] In this embodiment, a fingerprint data and an identification codewhich specifies the fingerprint data are registered in the fingerprintresister section 31, and an unlock record is recorded using theidentification code. Therefore, a memory capacity of the unlock recordstoring section 34 may be much smaller than a memory capacity of thefingerprint resister section 31. However, an embodiment of the presentinvention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and if thereis enough memory capacity, it is possible to register only thefingerprint data in the fingerprint resister section 31 without usingthe identification code.

[0050] Although the invention is applied to the door 11 provided on thedoorway 10 of the building in this embodiment, the invention is notlimited to this, and the invention can be applied to a door or similarstructure provided on a doorway of each portion in a building.

[0051] According to the embodiment, when the door-lock provided on thedoorway is unlocked, an identification system using no normal key thatmight be copied is employed. Therefore, the lock can be unlocked only bya correct person. Furthermore, since the unlock record of the door isstored together with date or time that can be set, it is possible toalways confirm an unlock record after installation, an unlock recordafter maintenance, an unlock record after replacement of parts or body,and the like. Thus, efficiency and reliability of security managementcan be enhanced.

1. A method for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway, comprisingthe steps of: detecting a fingerprint data input to a fingerprint inputsection disposed outside a door: verifying the detected fingerprint dataagainst one or more fingerprint data registered in association with eachidentification code; outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lockwhen it is confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided withthe registered fingerprint data; and storing the identification code ofthe registered fingerprint data that unlocked as record information. 2.A method according to claim 1 wherein: the identification codes hasextremely smaller data capacity than that of each fingerprint data, anda fingerprint data corresponding thereto is specified.
 3. A system forunlocking a door-lock provided on a doorway comprising: a fingerprintdetector disposed outside a door detecting a fingerprint data to beinput to a fingerprint input section; a fingerprint verifying device forverifying the fingerprint data detected by the fingerprint detectingmeans against one or more fingerprint data registered in associationwith each fingerprint data; a latch controller for outputting an unlocksignal to unlock the door-lock when the fingerprint verifying deviceconfirmed that the detected fingerprint data and the registeredfingerprint data coincided with each other; and an unlock record storingdevice for storing the identification code of the registered fingerprintdata that unlocked by the latch controller.
 4. A system according toclaim 3 wherein: the identification codes has extremely smaller datacapacity than that of each fingerprint data, and a fingerprint datacorresponding thereto is specified.
 5. A system according to claim 3wherein: the fingerprint detector is mounted outside a door; and thefingerprint verifying device, the latch controller and the unlock recordstoring device are mounted inside the door.
 6. An method for unlockingdoor-lock provided on a doorway comprising the steps of: detecting afingerprint data input to a fingerprint input section disposed outside adoor: verifying the detected fingerprint data against one or morepreviously registered outputting an unlock signal to unlock thedoor-lock when it is confirmed that the detected fingerprint datacoincided with the registered fingerprint data; and storing datainformation or time information is added to the fingerprint data thatunlocked as record information.
 7. A method according to claim 6wherein: in the verifying operation, the fingerprint data is identifiedby referring to an identification code associated with fingerprint datawhich was registered with a name; and in the verifying operation, anidentification code associated with the fingerprint data that unlockedis stored as fingerprint data.
 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein:if it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint does not coincide withthe registered fingerprint after the verifying operation, the door-lockis not unlocked, and the record information is stored together with adetection time.
 9. A method according to claim 6 wherein: if it wasconfirmed that the detected fingerprint does not coincide with theregistered fingerprint after the verifying operation, the door-lock isnot unlocked, and the detected fingerprint data is added to the recordinformation as unconfirmed fingerprint data and they are stored.
 10. Asystem for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway comprising: afingerprint detector disposed outside a door detecting a fingerprintdata to be input to a fingerprint input section; a fingerprint verifyingdevice for verifying a fingerprint data detected by the fingerprintdetector against one or more previously registered fingerprint data; alatch controller outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lockwhen the fingerprint verifying device confirmed that the detectedfingerprint data and the registered fingerprint data coincided with eachother; an unlock record storing device for storing fingerprint dataunlocked by the latch controller as record data, the unlock recordstoring device having a data function or a clock function; and date/timesetting means for setting the data function or the clock function of theunlock record storing device.
 11. A system according to claim 10wherein: the fingerprint detector is mounted outside a door; and thefingerprint verifying device, the latch controller, the unlock recordstoring device and the date/time setting means are mounted inside thedoor.
 12. A system for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorwaycomprising: fingerprint detecting means disposed outside a door fordetecting fingerprint data to be input to a fingerprint input section;fingerprint verifying means for verifying fingerprint data detected bythe fingerprint detecting means against a plurality of previouslyregistered fingerprint data such that the data could be identified, eachthe fingerprint data being registered with name and the fingerprint databeing referred to by each identification code having much smaller dataamount than the fingerprint data; a latch controller outputting anunlock signal to unlock the door-lock when the fingerprint verifyingdevice confirmed that the detected fingerprint data and any one of theregistered fingerprint data coincided with each other; unlock recordstoring means having a data function or a clock function for storing anidentification code of one of the registered fingerprint data; anddate/time setting means for setting the data function or the clockfunction of the unlock record storing means.
 13. A system according toclaim 12 wherein: the fingerprint detecting means is mounted outside thedoor; and the fingerprint verifying means, the latch control means, theunlock record storing means and the date/time setting means are mountedinside the door.